EU proposes stricter privacy rules for online user data

The European Union is known for placing a higher premium on personal privacy than the U.S. does, and its latest campaign could force technology companies to comply with stricter data rules within its borders.

On Tuesday, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs published a report recommending amendments to the EU’s privacy rules that would require Internet users to find out what data companies have on them, for free, and force social networks to allow users to move their information between platforms.

The penalties for not complying would be serious. Up to now, the biggest privacy fine EU privacy regulators have levied was in 2011 against Google, for collecting unauthorized data in France for its Street View maps--€100,000 ($131,000). But under the proposed amendments, the EU would have the power to fine companies up to 2 percent of their global sales for “intentionally or negligently” violating the rules.

The Industry Coalition for Data Protection issued a statement criticizing the report, saying the proposal “missed an opportunity to reconcile effective privacy safeguards with rules protecting the conduct of business -- both fundamental rights under the EU charter.”